Anxiety and Depression Support group for UK & Ireland

Junior1889

Free Member
Oct 2, 2017
1
1
Hi everyone my name is Mark Larden i created a group called the Anxiety and Depression Support group for UK & Ireland and a Facebook support page back in January 2017, I could not find another group based in the UK where i felt i fitted in or went that extra yard to help it's members.


I started suffering from severe Anxiety back in Janury 2016 and i recently wrote a blog about my Journey with Anxiety and also Depression which i have faced a battle with for many years all of which is detailed in my blog.

The support group has grown at a fair pace over the last 2 months especially the group membership stands at around 1240 ish mark at the minute and the Facebook support page has around 835 likes so far.

I never truly understood just how many people suffered from Anxiety & Depression in the UK & Ireland not many people speak out either due to the stigma surrounding mental health.

The Anxiety has had a huge impact on my life and why i am struggling to find employment, I haven't been sat about doing nothing in my spare time i have been trying to raise awareness for the group and trying to help others that are suffering too but i am limited as to what i can do with no budget.

I would love to be able to make this my line of work and supporting others is what i enjoy doing and find very rewarding knowing that it makes a difference as you can see by the reviews on our Facebook Page.

For example this was a review written just the other week.











Back late last year I was in a terrible state with my anxiety and ptsd. I found this page and was so glad to find people who could relate and support me when I needed it. With support and medication I now feel I have my anxiety under control and I'm living my life again. But I will never leave this page, it helps to know people are there should I need them. And in return if I see a post I feel I can help with I'm happy to talk and help in any way. Thank you mark for setting up this page, you should be proud of yourself as a person who is still fighting his own battles and yet still able to help others



There are a lot of amazing people on the group that need help for example a lady messaged our support group page at 3am i was still awake she was panicking and had no one to talk too.

She was frantically searching for help but could not find any she came across our page by chance i reassured her it would not cost a penny as she was panicking, I spent just over 30 mins talking to her and by the end of the call she felt a lot more positive and thanked me for taking the time to speak to her.

I am trying my hardest to get the word out about our group and get some financial support/backing and looking for some guidance as to what those with experience think the right path would be to take.

I am looking for sponsors for our amazing support group that could help us make a big difference to people's lives, the reviews that have been written so far show the difference our group has made with no funding so far so imagine the difference it could make with funding.

If i do manage to secure some sponsors/backers for the group that would be a major boost for our group.

It won't me post the links whole due to spam so i have had to remove the full links sadly to the story behind my Group and Page and my fight with Anxiety & Depression but if you type in Anxiety and Depression Support group for UK & Ireland it should come straight up in the search bar.


If anyone can help in anyway or would like further info please feel free to PM me or email me
 
  • Like
Reactions: Violinni

ethical PR

Free Member
  • Apr 20, 2009
    7,896
    1,771
    London
    Hello @Junior1889

    Congratulations on setting up your group and helping others in similar circumstances.

    Your issues will be that the larger charities like MIND, Mental Health Network etc all have local self help groups.

    If you are looking for sponsorship, you would have to show what you are doing which is different and that your group is set up with proper safeguarding in place.

    If you are interested in working in this field - why not look at applying for work with one of these charities or within the NHS?
     
    Upvote 0
    R

    Root 66 Woodshop

    As someone who has suffered with Depression since 1990 (wooahh... that's 27 years!! I'm really that bloody old?!!) I think that what you want to do is quite inspiring and I wish you all the best!

    Can you not turn the support group into a registered charity?

    We would be more than happy to provide our services as a charity fund raising event for you at no cost for the team - the venue on the other hand will be a different story.

    However - I do have a couple of locations in the NW which are more than affordable to run a fund-raising event.

    Not good for those who suffer with anxiety - other than what we do could actually help those who suffer with night attacks... i.e. our event is held from 9.00pm - 3.00am and are prominently held in the dark all night apart from coffee breaks ...

    we don't do anything to make anyone jump or to scare them, but we have had it happen a few times ;)
     
    Upvote 0
    I am blissfully happy.

    I find the idea of someone trying to support anxiety and depression very depressing and I really wish you would stop!

    There are really too many po-faced people around, without you adding to their number!

    Snap out of it!
     
    Upvote 0

    Latest Articles

    Join UK Business Forums for free business advice